(a) Initiation of an episode. An episode is initiated when, with respect to a beneficiary described in § 510.205—

(1) The participant hospital admits the beneficiary for an anchor hospitalization; or

(2) On or after July 4, 2021, an anchor procedure is performed at the participant hospital.

(b) Exclusions. A hospital is excluded from being a participant hospital, but only so long as any of the following conditions apply:

(1) The hospital is an episode initiator for an LEJR episode in the risk-bearing period of Models 2 or 4 of BPCI.

(2) The hospital is participating in Model 1 of BPCI.

(3) These exclusions cease to apply as of the date that the hospital no longer meets any of the conditions specified in this paragraph.

[80 FR 73540, Nov. 24, 2015, as amended at 86 FR 23570, May 3, 2021]